Physical Therapy for Shoulder Painin Philadelphia, Trenton & Surrounding Cities

Shoulder pain, whether it just started or has been going on for months, is debilitating!

Physical therapists treat all kinds of shoulder pain on a daily basis. Our Strive PT physical therapists offer a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of your pain followed by a treatment plan to eliminate it. If you have shoulder pain, it is best to make an appointment sooner than later so the problem does not worsen.

Types of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most injured joints in the human body due to extreme mobility without the stability to protect it from injury. Common causes of shoulder pain include tendonitis, muscle tears, fractures, and labral tears. Tendonitis or tendinopathy develops gradually in any of the shoulder muscles, usually as a result of repetitive movements or muscular imbalances in the area. Muscle tears, fractures, and labral tears typically happen suddenly from an injury. Most everyone has heard of rotator cuff tears, which commonly happen when someone falls on an outstretched arm and hand. Fractures and labral tears happen from falls or other trauma as well.

Exercises & Treatments for Shoulder Pain

Physical therapy exercises for shoulder pain are crucial in recovering mobility and strength in the shoulder regardless of the pain source. In physical therapy, you will work on improving your pain-free range of motion first, add activation exercises and physical therapy stretches for shoulder pain to balance muscular activity, and progressively strengthen the area to prepare it for daily activities. Your PT will always update your plan to challenge you or take things out if they are causing you harm.

How A Physical Therapist Can Help Shoulder Pain

Physical therapists help patients with shoulder pain every day. PT should be a part of every stage of recovery from a shoulder injury. This is even true with fractures and rotator cuff tears when surgery is necessary. Patients typically begin physical therapy just days after shoulder surgery! Early physical therapy is the most important factor in the most efficient and painless recovery for any type of shoulder pain.

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Shoulder Pain Treatment Locations

Frequently Asked Questions

A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:
1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.
If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.
During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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People in Pennsylvania & New Jersey Trust Strive PT

Hear from patients that reclaimed their lives.

I was fortunate enough to see Dr. Anthony on the very SAME day I called, to request help with vertigo. He was very knowledgeable, thorough, and compassionate. Not only did I leave feeling better, I also left equipped with practical, easy to follow information to help prevent future incidents. This was my second visit to SOAR and both times I was very impressed!

Doreen B

I had a total knee replacement in Sept this year. At first I dreaded going in for the appointments and going thru the process which was estimated to be 3 months of therapy. My therapist is Chris Albanese. He's easy going and dedicated to getting my new knee construction to improve its mobility and functioning. After exactly 2 months with Chris I was released from therapy 1 month ahead of schedule. The staff at Soar was very helpful and everyone pitches in. I will recommend Soar Therapy to anyone.

Don G

Dr. Keith was wonderful. Very thorough and always took the time to explain everything in detail. The entire staff is welcoming, friendly and efficient. My experience with Soar was wonderful and I recommend it to anyone requiring PT.

Jill Z

Mark knew what he was doing; in all my years of therapy Mark was the best. He gave me Physical Therapy that worked for me. He knows his career very well. He knows what the patient needs to get better. Thank you so much!

Verified Patient

Strive PT

The time I spent with Tom and other members of the staff was great. The therapy that was provided cured me! I’m thankful to Dr. Paz who recommended that I come here. Again the staff here at STRIVE have been great. I could come here just for the workout. Again, I say thanks for your professionalism and support to help me.

Verified Patient

Strive PT

The professional atmosphere, cleanliness, and attentiveness of the staff I came in contact with at Strive provided a wonderful experience.

Verified Patient

Strive PT

Nearly 4 years ago I had a severe cervical spine injury resulting in 2 surgeries that left me in constant agony, unable to walk unassisted, bathe myself, cut my own food, or get up the stairs alone. But Mike, Matt, Tyler and the entire crew at Dresher PT NEVER gave up on me. They cheered me on, gently and consistently challenged me, and exceeded the expectations of the surgeons who felt I was bound for a life of significant disability. I can do almost everything I had been able to prior to the injury. ALL thanks to Dresher PT!

Amy E.

I first came to Dresher PT with a rotator cuff injury. My surgeon had told me to expect a two-year recovery period. I came to Dresher PT and, within three months, my shoulder was back to 100% normal. They are fabulous!

Susan

I owe your admin staff a HUGE thank you for helping me through the insurance maze. No other medical office I’ve ever been to takes as much time to educate their clients about their insurance coverage and to advocate for them when insurance companies try to pull their dirty tricks.

Physical Therapy for Shoulder Painin Philadelphia, Trenton & Surrounding Cities

Types of Shoulder Pain

Exercises & Treatments for Shoulder Pain

How A Physical Therapist Can Help Shoulder Pain